1396/Recovery...

Recovery...
Date of Scene:	10 July 2017
Location:	Gotham
Synopsis:	Renee brings Harry Dresden in to inspect a murder scene, and risks getting in trouble to help her partner, Karrin Murphy recover.
Cast of Characters:	Karrin Murphy, Harry Dresden, Renee Montoya

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Karrin Murphy has posed:
It's been a week or so since Karrin and Harry ran into each other in an alleyway, she having just escaped Two-Face's 'assistance' (kidnapping) and Harry the fae realms. Since then, one would have to be hard pressed to think of a night Karrin didn't stay at Harry's place, though she's said nothing about it. Just like things are supposed to be that way. The nightmares have come every night, at least once. Not of his Aunt's doing this time. The flash backs, however, have lessened. Karrin's trying to ignore it all, like nothing is wrong in the least. IT's easier that way. And every day she applies to the office to try and get back on duty. Everyday she is denied.

Today is no different. So, having gone over to the precinct in the morning only to be denied by the force's shrink, again, Karrin has been looking for something to distract her. She's trying to give him room, not wanting to cling, but she's angry, stir crazy, and the gym didn't help. She's also not looking the best, some of that weight and muscle she put on before having come off over the last few days. Her hand shakes, the smallest bit, when she's drinking her coffee. She wants more of that drug, and that's making things worse. So, after deciding that being alone is worse than bothering him at the office, she's decided to come here. She's still in a pissy mood.

The door opens while she almost seems mid-venting. "Damm know it all shrink thinks he can tell me I'm not fit for duty. He's lucky I didn't put his face through his desk."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"And that reaction, right there, might be the reason /why/ he said no, Karrin." says Harry as he wipes some dust off one of the file cabinets in his office. Yeah, likely not the best way to deal with the venting Murphy, but since when has Harry ever been smart about things.

Harry glances over to Karrin and offers a small smile, "I know you are itching to get back, but you need time to recover. You don't get over something like...whatever the hell he did to you...overnight, or even after a week. You'll get back to work soon, Karrin, but you can't push it."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
A little grunt is given in Harry's direction as he comments as to why the psychologist said no. Karrin just stares at him a heartbear or two. "...One, I didn't ask your opinion and two, whose side are you on here?" Grumpy Karrin is grumpy. Withdrawal is a bitch. She stalks over to the chair across from his desk and flips it around so she can straddle the thing, clearly just making herself comfortable, especially since he doesn't have clients.

"I'm recovered. That's what he *did* to me. He got me up on my feet. Recovered. If...if I didn't want another hit of that damn drug so badly the backs of my HANDS are itching right now, I'd say it was almost f*cking ideal what he did. He got me fit for duty again and now they won't actually LET me go on duty."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden chuckles lightly, shaking his head ever so slightly as he glances over to Karrin, "You know whose side I'm on, Karrin. That doesn't mean I am going to always agree with you, though. Hell's bells, just because we are 'a thing' now, doesn't mean we aren't going to disagree. In fact, I think the opposite is more likely to be true."

He moves over to wipe down another file cabinet, the lack of faerie cleaners in his office as opposed to this apartment evident by the collection of dust bunnies. "You body is physically recovered, sure, but mentally? Tell me, when was the last time you had a night without a nightmare? It hasn't been since you have been back. You know how I know, because I have been sleeping next to you. Psychic trauma take time to recover from. Remember how long it took for you to recover from Kravos?" He hates to bring it up, but he has to drive the point home somehow.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"This isn't about f*cking KRAVOS." Karrin snaps at him, far quicker and louder than she should. She then pauses, holding back and forcing herself to take a deeper, slower breath. She knows his point is made and that is half the reason she's pissed. ANd that's just making his point further. Karrin sighs slowly, dragging one hand across her face and sinking forward in the chair a bit more. She's just quiet now, partially resigned, and that just makes it worse.

"...Sorry. I should...go back home tonight. Let YOU get some night's sleep, at least... Rest." Karrin murmurs quietly, a touch of genuine apology behind her husky voice.

Harry Dresden has posed:
If being snapped at bothers Harry, he doesn't show it. He just continues to dust the one cabinet while she yells at him, turning when she is done and making her apology. "Fuck no." Harry says with a shake of his head, "I'd rather be there to hold you when you are having a nightmare, then being at home worrying about you. If you go home to sleep, you might as well expect company. And you have the bigger bed, so Mouse may just make himself comfortable as well."

Harry turns back to dusting the file cabinets, "I'm serious, Karrin. I'm not leaving you alone if I can help it. You're lucky I give you privacy in the bathroom at this point."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You worry too much, Dresden. It's not good for your heart and it's wearing off on your dog." Karrin mutters casually, good natured grumbling behind her tired voice, but no actual anger any longer. The moodswing passed as quick as it came, but the poor precinct head shrink is probably right -- she shouldn't be carrying a gun or anywhere near duty right now.

Karrin lets out another, longer breath, silently contemplating just WHAT to do here. Why she bothered him at work. That itching behind her eyes. She finally stands up, motions restlessly uncomfortable, and stalks over towards wherever he keeps his coffee pot, "Please tell me you have coffee on, at least... You're a wizard, you should see the future and know I need coffee." She's grasping for jokes now, keeping things lightly hearted and quipy. It's easier that way.

Renee Montoya has posed:
    Ring. Ring Ring. RINGRING. Ring. Ring. ... Ring.
    Harry's phone is ringing. Renee might very well know Karrin is there. But, with her phone, the department could inspect and find out she was calling Karrin. With a call to Harry, though? Well. That's business, isn't it? She's following protocol. A grey liine of protocol, at best. But. Protocol, nevertheless.

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry arches a brow and give Karrin that look that says, 'What, are you kidding me?' as his brow raises and he smirks, "Of course there is coffee. What do you take me for, a neanderthal? I don't need to be a wizard to know that future."

Harry turns back around and starts to wipe the file cabinet down as the phone rings. He glances at the phone, then to Karrin, "Of course I worry. It's my job to worry, and Mouse is just fine as he is..all however many pounds of fluffy love he has to give you. Hold that thought." he says as he moves over to the desk, lifting the receiver and speaking into it, 'Dresden.'

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"You're gonna make that dog turn gray before he's full grown. Whenever he stops growing. *IF* he stops growing." Karrin mutters, not having missed the fact that Mouse has very quickly outpaced the size of a medium dog and is barely a few months old. And has dinner plate paws. But her voice has a loving amusement behind it also. "He's going to eat you out of house and home." She mutters casually as she moves to pour the much needed coffee. Small talk is comforting.

But then the phone is ringing. The first sharp ring of sound and Karrin half jumps out of her skin, heart in her throat again. Still so easily startled. But she takes a breath, pulls back the reaction and then Karrin's brows arch, pale eyes flickering towards it. She nods for him to get it, since it's just a damn phone. She also busies herself putting an almost diabetic level of sugar in her coffee.

Renee Montoya has posed:
    "Dresden. Get over to the warehouse district. You've got 10 minutes." There's a pause. A heavy, pregnant sort of pause that Harry has heard all to often follows. Bad news is coming. "I hope you haven't had lunch." She takes a breath, then, exhaling the stressed tones in her voice. "You can bring a friend. She just can't be there in an official capacity. I didn't say that, either."

Harry Dresden has posed:
"Well, hello to you too, Detective Montoya..." Harry says into the phone as he glances over to Karrin. "You need me at the warehouse district in 10 minutes, don't eat lunch and bring a friend. Sounds lovely. You always know just the right things to make my heart all a flutter." He pauses for a moment, eyeing Karrin for a moment before letting out a little sigh, "I have a feeling I have a friend coming even if I didn't think they should...so I guess we will see you in a few." He pauses to let Renee respond, covering the mouthpiece on the old rotary phone, "Sounds like your partner has a juicy one. Are you up for this, Karrin? You can't be there officially."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Mid-pouring coffee, Karrin tries not to overhear, but she totally over hears. Especially as Dresden says Montoya's name. AND repeats everything. Her brows arch, stopping halfway through her pouring and turning her slender frame around to face Dresden. He gets a bit of a glare and smirk as he comments about not thinking she should come, but the look in her eyes says he's right. She's coming. "..Renee is ... just the best." SHe mutters as he hangs up, sounding utterly relieved at having SOMETHING to do.

Then she knocks back a gulp of her coffee and steps back over to grab her car keys. "I'm up for it. Better than sitting around itching my hands. Work is just what I need. Come on, let's go. I'll even drive." SHe did finally pick up her car from Mercy, but then she pauses. "...wait. I can't be anywhere near this. YOu should maybe drive. They know my car."

Renee Montoya has posed:
    When Harry and Karrin do finally arrive, it's not a hard place to miss. Several police cars, the rolling sirens silent, but colorful. The police tape. And, the flat foots keeping curious workers out, some of whom are milling about outside the lines to see what has happened, and what news they can get.
    "Montoya is waiting for you inside," says one of the officers. He looks at Karrin, frowning. "She said you were with Dresden as his consultant. I didn't see you, okay?" He lifts the tape for Harry, and Karrin both.

    The warehouse was one of those recently abandoned along the waterfront. Another failed business. Equipment wrapped up. "This way," Carmichael says, sneering some at Dresden. "Don't go messing anything up," he warns, with typical Carmichael disdain. "Murphy." The man nods to his former partner, glad to see her.
    "Leave the nice people alone, Carmicheal. Let them in."

    'In' consists of - a very gruesome sight. The floor, the walls, even the ceiling are covered in sticky, half-drying blood. What once a woman's body is strewn about the room. One arm is in the left corner, hanging from a rope. Another arm is in the right corner, also hanging. Corresponding legs have also been ripped asunder from her body and lay flat onto either side, just below the arms, wires tied to ankles.
    And suspended in the middle of the room, a headless torso. Hooks sunk into the woman's back, the body swinging slightly as the industrial fans blow down on it.
    The head? Lips sewn shut. And eyes removed.
    "Fifth week," says Montoya, quietly. "To the minute. Fifth week. Fifth body."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry was all polite and smiles to the various officers that he met along the way, offering his little laminated consultants id to those that he didn't know. Carmichael gets a nod and a smirk, "I know how this works, Ron." Harry says in a 'I know already' voice, giving the the grizzled cop a half-smile.

But then he enters into the warehouse.

He was warned not to have lunch, but that doesn't help when you actually come face to face with the scene. "Hells bells..." is quietly uttered, as Harry closes his eyes for a moment, steadying himself to once again look at the scene laid out in front of him.

He takes a few deep breaths, before he opens his eyes to once again look at the scene, just taking in the details and pushing away the fact that this used to be a human being not to long ago. "Fifth. Right. The other ones you mentioned."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
    As they approach the scene, Karrin tries to get a bit smaller in Harry's car. She's pulled on an over sized hoodie from the back seat and a beat up old cap. She's still pretty obviously herself, however, especially to officers who have worked with her for years. "I have no clue how Montoya thinks I'm gonna pull this off..." She mutters beneath her breath as they park, but she's determined to try. So, off they go.

    She slips out of the car with Harry, walking a bit more slumped that usual and hidden in her plain get up. It's not fooling anyone. A bittersweet smile crosses her lips to see Carmichael and she gives him a half nod, "Carmichael. Good... good to see you." She mutters. She doesn't push conversation with anyone else, though. She walks straight and steady. She keeps slightly shaking hands in her pockets. No one will see her sweat. Just a normal day and everything is fine, right?


Once they are inside, however, her steps close. She doesn't puke. SHe doesn't even gag. She's been in this business long enough to have seem similiar and even some worse, but that doesn't make this much easier. She just swallows back quietly, trying no tto breathe through her nose at the scent as she reaches a single, reassuring hand up to the back of Dresden's arm. She nods silently. They should keep walking. She's careful to steer clear of any blood while they move towards her partner. "This... is the string of killings you were talking about before, right? This one looks... more bloody than the others, if I'm not wrong?" Karrin asks quietly. She then looks up again, staring quietly at the head. "...I wonder what is sewn into her mouth." Just a guess, but probably a good one.

Renee Montoya has posed:
    Murphy, more than Harry, will recognize that the officers Renee picked? All those who, while they might or might not have any love for Harry, owe Murphy for one thing or another.
    "See," says Renee, "Already earning your consulting fee, Murphy. It's a good thing I can choose my own consultants until you get back." She gives Karrin a nod that says it all: I got your back.
    Then she nods, "Yes. This is - by far the most violent." She pauses, signals Harry and Karrin to follow her, "Noticed this on a check on the room's perimeter." And, within the room, sonewhat soiled and soaked in the sticky blood at parts, there's a circular outline in what appears to be a chalky substance. Salt. Chalk. Flour. Or, some other white powder.
    "You mentioned last time we talked some kind of ritual. These things are getting progrssively worse. Every time. We need to stop them. Now."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden is trying not to puke. It's written all over his face, which is pale and has little beads of sweat on his forehead. He takes a few more deep breaths as he follows Renee into the scene, he squats down as they reach the circular outline, Harry's face twisting up in a grimace as he looks at the line of the circle.

"Looks to be the remains of a circle of power."

He glances at the body parts strewn around the room. Noting the placement of the torso and head, then arms and legs. "Did you find anything else? Voids in the blood where something might have been at..." he reaches into his pocket and looks at a compass, "..that point there?" he mutters pointing to the North.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
Seeing the look on Harry's face, Murphy's hand comes up and she gives the back of his arm a gentle, steadying squeeze. She still looks somewhat ashen around the edges, but her hand has stopped shaking. Crisis mode lets out just enough adrenaline that withdrawals can be put to the back of her head right now. "Breath through your mouth, it's not so bad then." She recommends quietly, having been to far too many of these scenes.

She then picks her way closer to the head, leaning over to examine the stitches without touching them, "...I hope the coroner is on the way. These stitches were either done after death or, at least, unconsciousness. She didn't fight them. I'd put a hundred bucks on there being something in her mouth. And... Dresden, can you tell what kind of ritual this would be? If it is a circle of power?"

Renee Montoya has posed:
    "There was something circular, set into the ground. Missing," Renee confirms to Harry. "Bottom of a stand, to something. About four inches in diameter. Cup, maybe. Small stand. Light fixture. Candle holder. We don't know. Forensics is still sweeping the place."
    The stiches are cruel. And, clearly hastily put in. Leather. Not thread. Thin, but leather, nonetheless.
    "Couldn't find the eyes, either. Only body parts that seem to be gone. So that makes it heart. Eyes. Fingernails. Blood. And hair. One item, from each of the five victims."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Nodding once to Renee, Harry closes his eyes and takes another deep breath, through his mouth per Karrin's suggestion to try an alleviate the nausea he is feeling. "I really, really, really don't want to have to do this." Harry says as his eyes remain closed, "I don't want to have to look at this place though my sight...but it might give an answer or two as to what happened here."

He plops down from the squat to a sitting position, making sure he doesn't disturb anything as best as he can. "If I end up loosing my mind or something, Karrin, well...you know." Things better left unsaid in all the mixed company. "I'll try to reiterate what I see as best as I can. You may want to take notes."

And with that, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden opens his eyes, and his wizard's sight, and views the scene of the murder in the way only a wizard can.

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The commentary about the eyes makes Karrin smirk a bit darkly, "I'd also bet.. maybe the eyes are in her mouth. But... if such things have been straight up missing from all the other scenes, I could be wrong. Still..." Karrin stands up, beginning to scan over the scene for any other clues she or others might be missing otherwise.

Then she realizes what Harry is doing and her eyes go wide. If Renee had ANY doubt that the blonde loves the man, that'd be wiped totally away by the look on Karrin's face right now. SHe clearly loves him and the thought of what Harry is about to do freezes her heart in her chest, "Harry! Don't..." But it's too late. Of course he's stubborn. Of course he opens his sight. She dashes back to his side to catch him if he falls. HOpefully Renee will be ready with the paper.

Renee Montoya has posed:
    The Sight.
    It can be a frightening thing. And this is no exception.
    Dresden has seen Murphy, at least once, with the Sight, no doubt. Except this time, while there are still the azure swords in her hand, and her soul is still blazing, there are more wounds than ever there were before, several across her face and temple, where a nail is embedded into her flesh.

    Montoya is different, but similiar. She bears no swords. Yet, both her hands are filled with a similiar blue flame to that of Murphy's Swords, and a handgun of crimson-blood fire is in one of those hands. Across her neck, and her body, the remnants of broken chains, rusting, and wounds across her flesh where those chains once chaffed against flesh by the weights which are no longer there. Some personal hardship - and victory. Other wounds cover her, too. Cuts, across her arms, one across her stomach near her liver.

    And those are the most pleasant things about the room. With the Sight, the room is not just bathed in blood, the walls are alive with it, living waterfalls of the stuff. And the amount of dark energy is like a weight unto itself. If ever there was anything good here, it has been torn asunder like flimsy wallpaper, set on fire, the ashes dipped in demonic power, and then burned again. Things crawl. Boneless, maggot-like creatures, wallowing in the blood along the floor, half-human, half-monster, lidless eyes and gaping, deep-swallowing mouths, like larvae feeding. There is desperation. There is pain.
    The body is filled with nails. Leather stiches, streched, where the limbs were ripped out reach out to each other, forming a strange, sickly web.
    And, in the North. Where the circular spot was, there is a shadow. Deep. Man-shaped. As if someone had - erased themselves from the Sight. Or, were causing a blindness there to those who might look.
    The womans mouth bulges, strains against the sewing. As if she were about to vomit and could neither spit it out, or swallow.

Harry Dresden has posed:
The moment Harry opens his eyes, he looks to Karrin. Something he knows that will be if not pleasant to look at, at least familiar. He blinks, his face frowning as he looks at her, eyes slightly narrowed as he mutters '...what the hell did they do to you?"

His face tracks over to Renee, seeing her as he hasn't seen her before. He chuffs out a breath as he looks at her briefly, "...good for you."

Then he takes one more deep breath, and moves his eyes to the room.

And screams

He shuts his eyes, recoiling back into Karrin, while he tries to block the vision, but it has already been seen, and thus a permanent fixture in the recesses of his mind.

Resigned to his course of action, he opens his eyes again and looks. "...stars and stones. Poor girl. This...binding ritual of some sort. I don't want to know what the hell required this." He reaches up and wipes some spittle from his mouth, eyes wide as he continues to look around. "...so much blood..." He clears his throat, rambling off details. "Human sacrifice. Trying to bind something. Whoever did it tried to erase themselves from the sight. Shadow. Human shaped. Male? Can't tell. Tall enough?"

He closes his eyes again, turning and burying his face into Karrin's arms. "Need air...or a bucket."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
The moment Harry opened his eyes, Karrin was ready for the scream. She wasn't ready for that look of pain in his gaze as he looks HER over, even if the corresponding look of pride about Renee does get a faint smile from her. She knew she had a good partner, but that look just confirms it. But there is no time to consider the personal visions, because then Harry is screaming and Karrin's arms wrap tight around him. She holds him for dear life, letting him lean and hide against her. She doesn't let go, arms tightening even as he dares open his eyes again.

"Don't puke on Montoya's crime scene, they won't invite us back. Come on. Breathe. You can keep it together. Or... " Then she looks up to Renee, "I'm gonna get him outside. We've all been there before. Let me know what the coroner finds out about her mouth." She murmurs, before tryign to lead Harry to the door and out into fresh air. She remains wrapped around him protectively the whole time, letting him breathe her scent instead of the room's. Remind him of the good things as best she can.

Renee Montoya has posed:
    "Right." Renee looks concerned for Harry, too. Surprised, as the Wizard Consultant For Hire screams a scream of blood curdling terror. "Right. Go on. I'll talk to you both later. Thanks, Murphy. Dresden." Renee lifts her hand up, to excuse them. "I'll take the rest of it from here. Murphy, make sure I get those notes from him, when he's able," she says, with practical manner. "And, I'll be by his office to talk to him about the final forensic and corner findings later."
    Her mouth sets hard. "We need to catch these bastards."

Harry Dresden has posed:
Harry Dresden lets himself be led outside the crime scene, where he promptly finds the closest bush to puke in. Thankfully, he took Renee's advice and skipped eating lunch prior to coming over, so it is mostly bile and water.

He wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand, head lowered and taking in a few deep breaths before he looks over to Karrin, "I don't know how you get used to seeing things like that, Karrin," he murmurs "That is some epic level fucked uppery in there."

He glances back to the warehouse entrance, a small shudder washing over his body, his hand shaking a bit. "And whatever they bound in there? It's unholy. Has to be demonic....at best. If I had to lay a bet though, I might say outsider."

Karrin Murphy has posed:
"Thanks, Montoya. We'll get back to you soon, I promise." Karrin calls over her shoulder to her partner, worry clear in her bloodshot blue eyes. Then she's getting Dresden outside fast as her short legs can take both of them, which is pretty damn fast when she's determined to go somewhere. Once they are there, she lets him lean over a bush and she doesn't pull or look away either. Puke is no more gross than inside. She's pretty immune to it after all these years. "I...don't know how I did either. I don't think you ever get used to it you just get used to having to manage... reactions." Karrin admits with a half shrug.

Then she listens, her head tilting to the side, "Outsider...? No, it's... okay. Just... breathe. You can write the report after it's not so fresh. It's alright. Let's... get home. There isn't anything else we can see here until we get the coroner's report. Come on." SHe squeezes his shoulders quite gently, trying to get him to the car.